Category Archives: Lessons

by Michael Maciel I have a rather radical approach to theology. I like to say that God’s will for us is that we get our prayers answered. That and that only. There is no plan and no vision other than … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel It must have been amazing for our earliest ancestors to witness a live chick emerge from what was before merely an amorphous goo. It was a high mystery. Apart from the physical attributes of an egg, its … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel Just as a person’s face can reveal something about his or her personality, no one would presume that it reveals everything. There’s almost an infinity of stuff going on behind the masks that we wear. Why do … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel So, rather a rude title, no? It’s the best alternative to “Man, Know Thyself,” because of the problematic word “man,” which seems to exclude women. And even though the convention tells us that it doesn’t, that “man” … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel We’ve all done something that we regret. Shame keeps us from facing the loss that our action caused, which makes it difficult to be with the fact of the results of what we did. By “fact,” I … Continue reading →

Matthew 5 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel We affirm our values as to what is not only good for one but what is good for all. The paradox is that what is good for one IS good for all, and what is good for … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel There are two ways to be a minister, to serve God and humanity—two fundamental divisions of service. One way is to serve people directly by ministering to their spiritual needs through teaching, healing, and the sacraments. The … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel Do you need a spiritual teacher? No. What you need is a specific set of skills that you can use in your spiritual life—tools. Tools are meant to be used. And these tools can only be used … Continue reading →

by Michael Maciel A scientist once said, “The universe is not only stranger than we imagine, it’s stranger than we can imagine,” meaning that the human mind is not capable of a direct perception of reality. Even the most enlightened … Continue reading →